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X-Ray services offered in Fresh Meadows, NY
X-rays are known for producing detailed images of bones, but they can also be used to diagnose problems in organs and soft tissues. At All County Radiology, in the Fresh Meadows neighborhood of Queens, board-certified radiologist David Payne, MD, serves people of all ages and is well-known for producing X-rays with exceptional quality. If you have any questions about X-rays or need diagnostic imaging, don’t wait to call the New York City office or click the online booking feature to schedule an appointment.
X-Ray Q & A
How do X-rays produce images?
An X-ray uses a small amount of radiation to create images of the structures in your body. Your provider places a photographic or digital X-ray detector on one side of your body, then sends the X-ray from the other side, allowing the energy to go through your body and create an image on the detector.
The density of each structure determines how much radiation they absorb. Bones absorb more than soft tissues. As a result, bones appear white on the X-ray image, while soft tissues show as shades of gray. Variations in X-ray absorption reveal important details.
When might I need an X-ray?
Health care providers order X-rays to diagnose the source of your pain, nausea, and other symptoms. X-rays are the gold standard for diagnosing bone conditions.
However, X-rays also reveal problems in your soft tissues, including the organs in your chest and abdomen. Your All County Radiology radiologist may use contrast material to improve the visibility of specific organs, tissues, and blood vessels.
These are a few examples of the many health problems diagnosed with X-ray imaging:
- Broken bones
- Dislocated joints
- Bone spurs
- Bone infections
- Arthritis
- Slipped vertebrae
- Foreign objects
- Lung infections
- Lung cancer
- Pneumonia
- Kidney and bladder stones
Though signs of heart conditions show up on X-rays, diagnosing a cardiovascular condition requires additional imaging, such as ultrasound or echocardiography.
What happens when I get an X-ray?
After you get on the X-ray table, the technician puts you in the best position to obtain a good image of the targeted structures. The X-ray area stays uncovered, and they place lead aprons over the rest of your body to prevent radiation exposure.
After placing the X-ray detector under the table (directly below the targeted tissues), your technician positions the X-ray machine next to your body. Then they go behind a protective window and take the X-ray.
You can’t feel the X-ray. However, you must stay still and some X-rays require you to hold your body in an uncomfortable position. If you have a painful injury or health condition, holding the position may cause additional pain. Thankfully, it only takes a few seconds to snap the X-ray.
Staying still is especially challenging for children, so parents may need to stay in the room while wearing lead protection.
Call All County Radiology today or use online booking if you have questions or need to schedule X-rays.